Method and apparatus for severing a continuous



KNODEL, JR S FOR SEVERING A CONTINUOU March 17, 1964 c METHOD ANDAPPARATU TUBE INTO CAN BODIES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1962INVENTOR.

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BY Wm M 4%. MM 1477'0E/VEX5 3,124,872 5 FOR SEVERING A CONTINUOUS S m wH B om 0C NO T KU m HM Cm W p. A D N A D O H T E M March 17, 1964 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1962 BYWQM WM-ZZM March 1-7, 1964 c. H.KNODEL, JR 3,124,872

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEVERING A CONTINUOUS TUBE INTO CAN BODIESFiled June 11, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

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March 17, 1964 c. H. KNODEL, JR 3,124,872

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SEVERING A CONTINUOUS TUBE INTO CAN BODIESFiled June 11, 1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TOR. C'H/YFL E5 H/PfiLO#40052 JR YMQM z Q EKM c. H. KNODEL, JR 3, 4,872 METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR SEVERING A CONTINUOUS March 17, 1964 TUBE INTO CAN BODIE S 5Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 11, 1962 QIIIIIII WWM ATTQ/VEYS United StatesPatent 3,124,872 METHOD AND AIPARATUS FOR SEVERKNG A CONTINUOUS TUBEINTO CAN BGDliES Charles Harold Knodel, Jr., Palatine, Ill., assignor toAmerican Can Company, New York, N.Y., a corporation of New Jersey FiledJune 11, 1962, Ser. No. 201,656 Claims. (Cl. 29-413) The presentinvention pertains to separating a continuous tube, which is alreadyseparated around the major portion of its circumference, intopredetermined lengths. More particularly, it is concerned with a methodand apparatus for the intermittent separation of a continuous tube intoshort lengths suitable for can or container bodies.

The present invention is applicable to the separation, intopredetermined lengths, of a partially slit tube of any flexible materialsuch as plastic, paper, or other fibrous material, or metal even up to arelatively heavy gauge. However, for the purpose of this disclosure andexplanation, the invention will be described hereinafter in relation tothe formation of tubular, light gauge, metal can bodies. Thecross-sectional configuration of the can bodies denoted by the termstube and tubular as used herein is meant to include polygonal, e.g.square, rectangular, hexagonal, etc., as well as circular.

The can making industry has long recognized the advantages of making canbodies from sheet steel in coil form. In this method of manufacture thesteel is continuously fed from the coil into a tube-forming machinewherein the marginal edges of the sheet are joined, such as by welding,soldering, etc., and thereafter the resulting continuous tube isseparated into individual can bodies. This general method has beenpracticed for many years in the manufacture of relatively thick-walledmetal tubes. It is only recently that a commercially feasible method hasbeen discovered for separating thin gauge metal tubes into individualcan bodies.

It is an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus forrapidly and accurately separating a continuous tube composed of anyflexible material into predetermined lengths.

Another object is to provide a method and apparatus for separating acontinuous, thin-walled, metal tube into individual can bodies rapidlyand accurately.

A further object is to provide a method and apparatus of the classdescribed whereby no undesired burrs or slivers remain on the individualseparated lengths.

A further object is to provide means for intermittent severing ofpredetermined lengths from the forward end of a continuously formedtube.

A still further object is to provide means for changing the continuousmovement of the tube, along a portion of its path, to the intermittentmovement necessary for separation of the individual bodies.

An additional object is to provide means for separating predeterminedlengths from the continuous tube and removing these lengths from thetubes path of travel.

Yet another object is the provision of a method and apparatus of thecharacter described which may be used to provide individual,predetermined lengths having a cross-sectional configuration other thancircular, e.g. square, polygonal, etc.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the inven- "ice tion will beapparent as it is better understood from the following description,which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses apreferred embodiment thereof.

The above objects are obtained by providing a continuous tube movingalong a straight-line path of travel with the wall weakened, such as byscoring or slitting, transversely around the greater portion of itscircumference at predetermined intervals. However, the wall is integraland unweakened along a longitudinally extending portion of the tube. Inthe instant method the tube is passed continuously along a straight-linepath of travel wherein the tube does not separate along the weakenedlines. Then the tube is passed along an arcuate path wherein theweakened portions open to V-shaped spaces and the tube then continues ina substantially straight line lateral path to an indexing and severingelement. The foremost predetermined tube length is then directed awayfrom the tubes path of travel to again open a V-shaped space. At thispoint, the integral portion at the apex of the V-shaped space remainsstationary for a time interval and a severing element is inserted intothe space and separates the foremost length from the remainder of thetube. The severed element is then removed from the path of the tubewhile the unsevered portion remains stationary.

In order to change the continuous motion of the tube to the intermittentmotion necessary for severing the predetermined lengths, means areprovided between the aforementioned straight-line path and severingmeans to vary the length of the tube. Indexing means are also providedto advance the tube along the lateral path of travel in an intermittentmotion, in timed relationship with the severing and removal of thepredetermined foremost tube lengths.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURES l and 2 are continuing perspective views of one form ofapparatus for carrying out the steps of slitting transversely the flatstrip stock as it comes off a coil thereof and forming this slit stockinto a continuous tube;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a portion of the transversely slit flat stripshowing the position of the slits relative to the edges of the strip;

. FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus for changing itscontinuous motion to intermittent motion; and for severing thepredetermined lengths from the continuous tube;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged plan View of the indexing and severingmechanism, taken as indicated by the line 5-5 in FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantiallyalong line 6-6 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View of the indexing and severing mechanismtaken substantially along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the invention, the drawingsillustrate the method and apparatus for carrying out the presentinvention. A strip 10 of sheet metal, such as tin plate, black plate orthe like, is supplied from a coil 11 of the material. The strip 10 is ofa width approximately equal to the circumference of the can bodies to beproduced and of a length sufficient to provide a considerable number ofcan bodies. The unwinding of strip 1t from coil 11 and the feeding ofthe strip for subsequent operations is performed by a pair of feedrollers 12 which frictionally engage the upper and lower surfaces of thestrip disposed between the rollers. After passing between the rollers12, the strip 11 passes between a pair of opposed rollers 13, the upperone of which carries one or more transversely extending knives 14 andthe lower one has cooperating recesses (not shown) for the purpose ofslitting the strip transversely along a portion of its width. Therotation of the knives 14- as the strip 10 passes between the rollers 13produces a series of slits 15 at spaced intervals along the length ofthe strip in accordance with the length of the can bodies to beproduced. As best shown in FIGURE 3, the slits 15 extend across thecentral portion of the strip 10 but terminate just short of the marginalor side edges of the strip.

The partially slit strip 10 then passes between a series of formingrollers 16 and around a mandrel 17 (FIGURE 2) whereby the strip isgradually brought into tubular shape with the unslit marginal edgesoverlapped. These overlapped marginal edges are then securely bonded toone another, such as by passing them under a rotating resistance weldingelectrode 18 to form a continuous tube 19. Although the tube 19 ispartially divided into potential can bodies or cylinders 20 by virtue ofthe spaced slits 15, it remains an integral, unitary structure by virtueof the unslit portion 21 including the bonded side seam 22.

Actual formation of the tube 19 forms no part of the instant invention,the above description being for the purpose of clarity and continuity.If desired, other methods and apparatus may be used to form the tube 19having the spaced slits 15 and the longitudinally extending unslitportion 21. One such other method is that shown in United States Patent2,187,740 issued to John M. Hothersall on January 23, 1940, wherein thetube is composed of a series of cylinders formed from individual flatblanks and integrally connected along their bonded side seams.

After bonding the overlapped marginal edges, the continuous tube 19 isfed along a straight-line path of travel (FIGURE 4) until the unslitportion 21 engages the periphery of a rotary guide 23 secured on a shaft24 that is journaled in a frame 25. The rotary guide 23 changes the pathof travel of the tube 19 from the straight-line path to an angularlyupward path 26, until the unslit portion 21 engages a second rotaryguide 27 that is secured to a shaft 28 journaled in the frame 25. Thelongitudinal axes of the guides 23 and 27 are parallel and spaced fromone another with the guide 27 above the guide 23 so that the path of thetube 19 may vary from path 26 to path 29 as the length of the tube 19varies from taut to slack between its continuous and intermittentadvancing means. As shown in FIGURE 4, the guides are rotatable wheels,which preferably rotate freely but may be driven. If driven, guide 23would be driven intermittently to accommodate the intermittent motion ofthe contiguous portion of the tube 19. Guides 23 and 27 alsosubstantially reverse the direction of the path of travel of the tube 19as it progresses from the welding electrode to an indexing and severingmechanism generally designated 38, also mounted on frame 25, which willbe explained with particularity hereafter.

The indexing and severing mechanism 30 is shown in greater detail inFIGURES 5, 6 and 7. Opposed indexing wheels 32 and 33 grip the advancingtube 19 by means of the concave or sheave-like contours of segments 34and 35 which, substantially simultaneously, engage the tube 19 onopposite sides thereof and move the tube a predetermined distance witheach revolution of the wheels. The remaining peripheral segments of theindexing wheels 32 and 33 are spaced from the path of the tube 19 so asto avoid contact with the tube. Indexing wheels 32 and 33 are rotatablymounted, respectively, on substantially parallel shafts 36 and 37.

The upper end of shaft 36 is driven in a clockwise direction (FIGURE 6)by means of a suitable power source which is not shown. Secured to thelower end of shaft 36 is a bevel gear 40 which meshes with a bevel gear42 fixedly mounted on shaft 44 that is journaled in the frame 25 whoseaxis is normal to the axis of shaft 36. At the other end of shaft 44 iskeyed bevel gear 46 which in turn meshes with bevel gear 47 secured tothe lower end of shaft 37. Thus indexing wheel 33 is dripen by thedescribed gear-shaft train in a direction opposite to that of indexingwheel 32. Accordingly, the sheave-like contoured segments 34 and 35 ofthe indexing wheels grip the advancing tube 19 in unison and impart tothe tube an intermittent advancing motion.

Upon disengagement from the sheave-like contours segments 34 and 35, theforemost partially severed can body 20a enters an angularly positionedgauging stop 48 disposed adjacent to and forwardly of the segments. Thispositions the body 20a at an angle to the next adjacent tube length 20b,thus opening a V-shaped gap 49 between the foremost tube body 20a andthe next adjacent body, 2811. An unslit portion 21a is at the apex ofthe 1 V-shaped gap 49 and still connects body 2011 to body 20b.

Extending across one end of the frame 25 adjacent the indexing wheels 32and 33 is a bracket 50 secured to the frame by any suitable means suchas machine screws 51. Towards its center, the bracket 50 has adownwardly extending arm 50:: terminating in a cup-like recess 53 inwhich is mounted an expansion spring 54, the opposite end of which bearsagainst a depending end wall 480 of the stop 48.

The spring 54 biases the stop 48 about a pivot pin 55, located at theupper end of wall 48:], into its normal downwardly inclined relationshipwith the tube 19. Integral with and extending inwardly from the arm 50ais a rigid arm 50b terminating in a tip 50!: which bears against anupper wall 481: of the stop 48 and limits the inclination of the stop48.

Once the foremost partially slit body 200 is brought into positionwithin stop 48 by the indexing wheels 32 and 33, the gear-shaft trainoperating the wheels 32 and 33, hereinbefore described, also activates asevering mechanism in timed relationship with the wheels 32 and 33.Secured to the upper end of shaft 37, which also has indexing wheel 33mounted thereto, is bevel gear 56. Gear 56 meshes with the bevel gear 57which is rotatably secured on shaft 58, whose axis is parallel to theaxis of the body 28b.

Rotatably attached to the other end of shaft 58 is a cutting knife 59which revolves with the shaft 58 in timed relationship to the advance ofthe tube 19. A cutting edge 60 enters the V-gap 49 when the body 20acomes to a momentary stop within the gauge 48 and severs the body 20afrom the tube 19 at the unslit portion 210 without leaving sliversattached to either of the adjacent bodies.

Integral with knife 59 is a boss 63, having secured to it by means ofbolt 64, a hard member 65 which engages a hardened portion 68 of thestop wall 48b immediately after the unslit portion 21a has been cut bythe rotating knife 59.

Upon being engaged by the member 65 the stop 48 is pivoted downward,removing the then severed body 20a from the remainder of the tube 19.During the downward movement of the stop 48, the spring 54 iscompressed. Upon release of the severed body 20a from the stop 48, thespring 54 expands to return the stop 48 to its normal position forreceiving the next body 2011, which is the foremost end of tube 19.

After separating from the stop 48 the severed can body 20a is receivedby a chute 84. The chute 84 is mounted on the frame 25 by means of abracket 86 and securing bolts 88. Chute 84 then guides the severed canbody 20a to a suitable storage or finishing area, which is not shown. Itis readily apparent that many methods may be used to collect the severedcan bodies, the above description being for the purpose of clarity andcontinuity.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description and it will beapparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the parts and that changes may be made in the steps ofthe methods described and their order of accomplishment withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing allof its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merelya preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. A method of separating predetermined lengths from a continuous tubeof flexible material, which tube is weakened along a line extendingtransversely around the greater portion of its circumference at spacedintervals corresponding to said predetermined lengths but is integraland unweakened along a longitudinally extending portion thereofcomprising, passing said tube along a path of travel including: (1) astraight-line path wherein said tube moves continuously and saidtransverse weakened lines remain closed; (2) a lateral path spaced fromsaid straight-line path with said unweakened portion on the insidethereof wherein said tube moves intermittently and a V-shaped space isopened between the foremost predetermined length and the remainder ofsaid tube, the unweakened portion at the apex of said space remainingstationary for a time interval due to the intermittent movement of saidtube in said lateral path; and (3) a path at an angle to and betweensaid straight line and lateral paths variable within limits wherein thecontinuous move ment of said straight-line path changes to theintermittent motion of said lateral path, inserting a cutting elementinto said space and severing said unweakened portion and removing saidelement from said lateral path while said unweakened portion isstationary, and separating the completely severed length from said tube.

2. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein the tube traversing saidvariable path is alternately slack and taut due to the change fromcontinuous to intermittent movement.

3. The method set forth in claim 1 wherein said tube in traversing saidpath of travel, extends substantially horizontally in said straight linepath, around a first arcuate guide, generally forwardly and upwardly insaid variable path, around a second arcuate guide in a directionsubstantially opposite that around said first guide, rearwardly andsubstantially horizontally, and rearwardly and downwardly in saidlateral path.

4. The method set forth in claim 3 wherein the unweakened portion ofsaid tube engages a portion of the periphery of said first and secondarcuate guides.

5. A method of separating predetermined lengths from a continous tube,which tube is made by forming a continuously moving strip of flexiblematerial slit at spaced intervals partially across its width but unslitat its margins into tubular shape and continuously bonding the unslitmargins together to produce a continuous tube slit trans versely aroundthe greater portion of its circumference at spaced intervalscorresponding to said predetermined lengths and unslit along alongitudinally extending portion thereof comprising, passing thejust-formed portion of the tube with continuous motion along astraight-line path of travel with said unslit portion on one sidethereof, passing the forward end of said tube with intermittent motionalong a path of travel spaced from said straight-line path, providingslack in the portion of said tube between said continuously moving tubeportion and said intermittently moving tube portion to enable the motionof said tube to change from continuous to intermittent, positioning theforemost predetermined length at an angle to the remainder of saidforward end while said forward end is in motion to open a V-shaped spacebetween said foremost length and said remainder of said forward end withan unslit portion of said tube at the apex of said space, inserting acutting element into said space and severing said unslit portion at theapex thereof while said foremost length and forward end are at rest, andseparating said severed length from said tube.

6. An apparatus for separating a predetermined length from a continuoustube of flexible material, which tube is weakened transversely aroundthe greater portion of its circumference at spaced intervalscorresponding to said predetermined lengths and unweakened along alongitudi nally extending portion thereof comprising, means forcontinuously conveying said tube along a straight-line path of travel,guide means disposed adjacent said straightline path with a portion ofits perimeter engaging the continuous unweakened portion of said tube,said guide means adapted to open a V-shaped space between each passingpredetermined length and to guide said tube into a path of travel havinga direction different from said straight-line path, indexing meansspaced from said guide means for engaging said tube adjacent its forwardend to move said forward end in timed intermittent motion in a forwarddirection, means adjacent said indexing means for positioning theforemost predetermined length of said tube at an angle to the nextadjacent tube length whereby a V-shaped space is opened between saidlengths with an unslit portion at the apex of said space, severing meansadjacent said last mentioned means and said indexing means operating intimed relation with said indexing means to enter said V-shaped spaceduring the stopped portion of said intermittent motion and to sever theunslit portion at the apex thereof, and means to separate the severedpredetermined length from the remainder of said tube.

7. An apparatus for separating a predetermined length from a continuoustube of flexible material, which tube is slit transversely around thegreater portion of its circumference at spaced intervals correspondingto said predetermined lengths and unslit along a longitudinallyextending portion thereof comprising, means for continuously conveyingsaid tube along a straight-line path of travel, a first guide meansdisposed adjacent said straightline path with a portion of its perimeterengaging the contiguous unslit portion of said tube, said first guidemeans adapted to guide said tube into a path of travel extendinglaterally from said straight line path, a second guide means disposedadjacent said lateral path of travel with a portion of its perimeterengaging the contiguous unslit portion of said tube, the longitudinalaxes of said first and second guides being parallel to and spaced fromone another, said second guide means adapted to guide said tube into apath of travel extending at an angle to said lateral path, indexingmeans disposed adjacent said last mentioned path of travel and spacedfrom said second guide means for engaging said tube adjacent its forwardend to move said forward end in timed intermittent motion in a forwarddirection, means adjacent said indexing means for positioning theforemost predetermined length of said tube at an angle to the nextadjacent tube length whereby a V-shaped space is opened between saidlengths with an unslit portion at the apex of said space, severing meansdisposed between said last mentioned means and said indexing meansoperating in timed relation with said indexing means to enter saidV-shaped space during the stopped portion of said intermittent motionand to sever the unslit portion at the apex thereof, and means toseparate the severed predetermined length from the remainder of saidtube.

8. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said first and secondguide means are freely rotatable wheels adapted to permit the length oftube extending between said wheels to be alternately slack and taut dueto the change in motion of said tube from continuous to intermittent.

9. The apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said indexing means is apair of wheels disposed one on each side of said tube adjacent itsforward end rotating in unison and in opposite directions, a portion ofthe periphery of said wheels having a sheave-like contour for grippingsaid tube therebetween to move said tube a predetermined ReferencesCited in the file of this patent distance during each completerevolution of said wheels, UNITED STATES PATENTS and the remainingportion of the periphery of said wheels being spaced from said tube soas to be non-contacting 2,187,740 Hothelsall 111m 23, 1940 therewith. 52,444,463 Nordquist July 6, 1948 10. An apparatus set forth in claim 7wherein said sev- 2,444,465 Peters July 6, 1948 ering means comprises aknife rotating on a shaft substan- 2,484,854 Peters Oct. 18, 194-9tially parallel to said last mentioned path of travel.

1. A METHOD OF SEPARATING PREDETERMINED LENGTHS FROM A CONTINUOUS TUBEOF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL, WHICH TUBE IS WEAKENED ALONG A LINE EXTENDINGTRANSVERSELY AROUND THE GREATER PORTION OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE AT SPACEDINTERVALS CORRESPONDING TO SAID PREDETERMINED LENGTHS BUT IS INTEGRALAND UNWEAKENED ALONG A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING PORTION THEREOFCOMPRISING, PASSING SAID TUBE ALONG A PATH OF TRAVEL INCLUDING: (1) ASTRAIGHT-LINE PATH WHEREIN SAID TUBE MOVES CONTINOUSLY AND SAIDTRANSVERSE WEAKENED LINES REMAIN CLOSED; (2) A LATERAL PATH SPACED FROMSAID STRAIGH-LINE PATH WITH SAID UNWEAKENED PORTION ON THE INSIDETHEREOF WHEREIN SAID TUBE MOVES INTERMITTENLY AND A V-SHAPED SPACE ISOPENED BETWEEN THE FOREMOST PREDETERMINED LENGTH AND THE REMAINDER OFSAID TUBE, THE UNWEAKED PORTION AT THE APEX OF SAID SPACE REMAININGSTATIONARY FOR A TIME INTERVAL DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT MOVEMENT OF SAIDTUBE IN SAID LATERAL PATH; AND (3) A PATH AT AN ANGLE TO AND BETWEENSAID STRAIGHT LINE AND LATERAL PATHS VARIABLE WITH LIMITS WHEREIN THECONTINUOUS MOVEMENT OF SAID STRAIGHT-LINE PATH CHANGES TO THEINTERMITTENT MOTION OF SAID LATERAL PATH, INSERTING A CUTTING ELEMENTINTO SAID SPACE AND SEVERING SAID UNWEAKENED PORTION AND REMOVING SAIDELEMENT FROM SAID LATERAL PATH WHILE SAID UNWEAKENED PORTION ISSTATIONARY, AND SEPARTING THE COMPLETELY SEVERED LENGTH FROM SAID TUBE.